CHARLESTON, S.C. — The harm avalanche of final season, which was most likely the primary motive the Knicks succumbed within the second spherical to the Pacers, gained’t immediate Tom Thibodeau to undertake a brand new philosophy for physique preservation.
“Each group has accidents. You simply cope with them,” the Knicks coach stated Wednesday when requested if there is perhaps a strategic shift this yr to stop accidents. “That’s a part of professional sports activities. So some years you don’t have any accidents, some you do. So no matter your actuality is, you cope with it.”
Thibodeau has by no means subscribed to load administration or punting regular-season video games for relaxation. If a participant is wholesome, the expectation is he fits up.
Thibodeau’s minutes distribution was additionally skewed heavier towards his greatest gamers than most NBA groups, with the Knicks ending second in starters minutes per sport at 165.1, behind solely the Bulls, in response to StatMuse.
As Thibodeau alluded, accidents weren’t a significant situation throughout his first three campaigns as Knicks coach. Of the common starters, solely Mitchell Robinson missed important time.
Final season was the comeuppance.
4 starters — Robinson, Julius Randle, OG Anunoby and Jalen Brunson — underwent surgical procedures. Randle, Anunoby and Robinson missed at the least 25 video games apiece.
They mixed to overlook 24 playoff video games.
Robinson nonetheless hasn’t recovered and can sit till at the least December, most likely longer.
The circumstances bolstered critics of Thibodeau’s all-in, all-the-time philosophy, a fame that carried him to develop into the three-time defending champion of The Athletic’s participant ballot query, “Which coach would you not wish to play for?”
Regardless of the skin rep and harm barrage final season, Thibodeau’s anti-load administration stance has been supported by his Knicks gamers and at the least one among them — Josh Hart — stated Wednesday that he’s additionally not altering.
“That’s for the media to take a seat there and cry about,” Hart stated. “I’ll by no means go right into a sport and suppose I’ve obtained to tempo myself or not play as arduous as I’m imagined to. On the finish of the day, I’m going on the market for each sport I play, pray to my Lord and Savior for cover, and I’m going out and play this sport as arduous as I can. … I’m not fearful about burning out or taking a time off.”
At 29, Hart is the oldest participant within the Knicks rotation but in addition among the many extra sturdy. Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Cities are greater harm considerations.
And with the blockbuster commerce that shipped away Donte DiVincenzo and Randle, the Knicks misplaced some depth — or harm insurance coverage.
On this subject, Thibodeau deserted his well-worn line of “I’m involved about all the things.”
He’s assured within the bench and clearly not going to changetenstio teaching method to protect wholesome our bodies.
“I’m not fearful about our depth. I really like our bench loads,” the coach stated. “When you take a look at the issues that our guys have executed, and I’m not precisely positive who it is perhaps, however Landry [Shamet] has been on a group that’s been at a excessive degree, Cam [Payne] has been on a group that’s gained at a excessive degree, Deuce [McBride] has supplied loads for us over that point. Valuable [Achiuwa] has been in a number of huge video games for us. After which one of many starters goes to be there with them. So I really feel that our bench goes to be an enormous asset for us.”
